CVE-2014-0729 in Unified Communications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Enterprise Mobility Application (EMApp) interface in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UCM) allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via a crafted URL, aka Bug ID CSCum05302.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0729 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within Cisco Unified Communications Manager's Enterprise Mobility Application interface. This weakness resides in the EMApp component that manages mobile device integration and communication within enterprise voice systems. The vulnerability specifically affects Cisco Unified Communications Manager versions prior to 9.1(2) and exposes organizations to significant security risks through remote exploitation capabilities. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input in URL parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands directly into the backend database layer.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted URLs that contain malicious SQL payloads. When the EMApp interface processes these malformed requests, the application does not adequately validate or escape input parameters before incorporating them into database queries. This improper input handling creates a direct path for attackers to manipulate the underlying database infrastructure, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive communication data, user credentials, and system configuration information. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is used in SQL commands without proper sanitization. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform data extraction, modification, or deletion operations on the database, effectively compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the unified communications environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and persistent access within enterprise networks. Organizations utilizing affected Cisco UCM versions face risks of unauthorized device management, call interception, and potential lateral movement within their communication infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or prior authentication. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes exploiting vulnerabilities in remote services to gain initial access to systems. The vulnerability also enables potential privilege escalation scenarios where attackers might elevate their privileges to administrative levels within the communications platform, further amplifying the security impact.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the official Cisco security patches and updates released for this vulnerability, specifically targeting the affected UCM versions. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to the EMApp interface from untrusted networks, while implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries in web applications. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous database access patterns and unusual URL parameters that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining exposure points within the unified communications infrastructure. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions can provide additional layers of protection against similar injection attacks that might target other components of the communication ecosystem.